02 September 2014.
By Hannah Alberts, Intern, Russia & Eurasia Programme
Since Vladimir Putin announced his intention to work toward integrating the economies of the former Soviet states in a Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) in 2011, Russia’s foreign policy goals have been increasingly in conflict with its domestic political realities. Inclusive rhetoric calling for the creation of economic and political associations between Russia and its neighbours stands in stark contrast to rising xenophobia within...

26 August 2014.
By John Drennan, Research Assistant and Programme Officer, Russia and Eurasia Programme
On 10 July, the Armenian leadership publicly rebuked its ally and patron, Russia, regarding its engagement on regional security for the first time. President Serzh Sargsyan criticised the Russian government for its decision to move forward with a $1 billion arms delivery to Baku, saying: ‘This is a very painful issue for us. Our people are extremely concerned that our...

This week's summit of the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative, which offers integration as a reward for reform to six former Soviet republics, has been widely portrayed as a watershed moment. But the countries' own shortcomings and Russian obstruction have demonstrated the limits of the EU's approach.

17 October 2013.
IISS Senior Fellow for Russia and Eurasia, Samuel Charap, was interviewed by the Valdai International Discussion Club (Valdaiclub.com), a forum which focuses on Russia.
In 2008, clashes between separatists and Georgian troops in Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia resulted in a war, pitting Georgia against Russia, the separatist Republic of South Ossetia and the Republic of Abkhazia. In a five-day conflict, Russia defeated Georgia’s efforts to gain control of the area...

04 December 2012.
Russian authorities are engaged in a large-scale counter-terrorism campaign against the Caucasus Emirate, a Salafist terrorist network with ties to al-Qaeda and other international groups. Its operations threaten the stability of the Russian North Caucasus, and could potentially impact further afield. Russia's counter-terrorism effort has assumed greater urgency since the 2014 Winter Olympic Games were awarded to Sochi, a popular resort city in the North Caucasus.

19 June 2012.
By Nicholas Redman, Senior Fellow for Geopolitical Risk and Economic Security; Editor, Adelphi Books
Russia is preparing to send two warships plus marines to Syria, as the civil war in that country shows no sign of letting up.
Russia has for months supported the government of Bashar al-Assad at the UN Security Council, blocking resolutions authored by Western and Arab League states to sanction Damascus and pressure Assad to step down.
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